Graduate student union contract expires in June, bargaining to begin in February

Executive Director of Faculty Personnel Services Matt Serra said it is too soon to say which issues will be negotiated with the graduate student union next year.

As reported Oct. 31 by Central Michigan Life, GSU President Michelle Campbell said CMU’s union is the only graduate student union without health insurance in Michigan. She said the GSU is confident that CMU will realize healthcare is a basic human right.

"The discussion of issues related to bargaining is premature at this time. The current contract with the Graduate Student Union expires on June 30, 2013,” he said. “The university will seek CMU Board of Trustees authority to bargain with the GSU at its February 2013 meeting. Once authority is granted, both sides will meet to discuss issues that will be negotiated."

CMU’s GSU was recognized in 2009, and the three-year contract from 2010-13 expires next summer.

The bargaining agreement states that CMU will provide a wellness allowance of $200 during academic year 2010-11 and $175 during academic years 2011-12 and 2012-13 for full-time graduate assistants.

Half-time graduate assistants do not exceed an average of 10 hours per week, and full-time graduate assistants do not exceed an average of 20 hours per week. The specific number of hours may vary according to the needs determined by the employing unit.

Full-time graduate assistants are working the maximum number of hours allowed to graduate assistants for on-campus employment, and they may not have additional on-campus employment while classes are in session during their term of employment without written consent of the dean of the College of Graduate Studies.

Bargaining unit members employed by CMU as of the end of the spring semester and through the immediate subsequent academic year received an increase effective the first pay period of that academic year: 0 percent in 2010-11, 1.5 percent in 2011-12 and 1.25 percent in 2012-13.

Beginning with the academic year 2010-11, the minimum stipend amount is in accordance with the degree pursued.

The stipend range is $10,300 to $14,400 for master’s degree and non-degree graduate students, and specialist degree students with fewer than 30 hours beyond the baccalaureate; $10,800 to $14,400 for College of Science and Technology master’s degree students; $11,600 to $19,000 for special degree students with 30 or more hours beyond the baccalaureate, and doctor of audiology, doctor of education and doctor of physical therapy degree students; $12,600 to $19,000 for PhD degree students.